By Maya Konings, EIC Lifestyle
From fresh and new ingredients to exciting, trendy recipes, there is quite literally a new food-related trend that emerges every day on TikTok. Often, these trends gain a ton of traction for a few weeks and then fade away (who else made baked tomato feta pasta literally once last year and then immediately forgot about it?). However, one trend that just might be here to stay is toast.
I’m not talking about just taking a piece of bread and spreading some butter on it (though don’t get me wrong, that certainly is delicious). I’m talking about content creators making toast an extravagant, creative, and complex meal that stands on its own. Not only has fancy toast taken up a significant percentage of my “For You Page”, but it’s been there for a while. While the specific trend may ebb and flow (last week I couldn’t stop seeing a high-protein “custard” toast, made with egg and greek yogurt, broiled in the oven, but this week is all about toasting your bread in a pan with olive oil instead of in a toaster), the underlying theme is the same: toast right now isn’t just bread, it’s an art form.
What makes the ubiquity of toast content on TikTok stand out to me is where it fits into the broader conversation about food. While all of the creators have their own unique recipes, flavors, and techniques, a common underlying theme is a celebration of food and the joy it can bring. Toast is a meal that can often be thought of as very utilitarian: its main draws are convenience and simplicity. However, recipes like @justine_snacks’ charred citrus Caprese toast or @cafehailee’s cucumber and ricotta toast (made on a homemade sourdough loaf) flip these associations on their head. They are creative and inspiring—pushing watchers to find joy in cooking and food in unexpected ways. When so much content on TikTok can unfortunately contribute to toxic diet culture, it’s a breath of fresh air to see videos that truly promote joy and positivity surrounding food.
Some creators like Brittany of @toastedtable are also using toast to celebrate their culture and find new ways to use traditional ingredients. Brittany’s recipes of loaded avocado toast with layers of labneh, dukkah and figs are inspired by celebrating the traditional Middle Eastern ingredients she grew up with in new contexts. Many creators, in general, are revolutionizing the way we think about what a simple piece of bread can do, adding toppings I never thought to put on toast. It’s innovative and allows us to push the boundaries of cooking and cuisine.
Of all the trends to emerge on my FYP over the years, fancy toast just might be my favorite. It inspires me to break out of my routines, try new techniques in the kitchen, and experiment with ingredients I otherwise wouldn’t think to use. I have always used cooking as a way to express my creativity and relieve stress, and finding fun new things to put on my toast in the morning brings me a little bit of joy every day. Let us know what your favorite toast recipe that you’ve seen is and what combos have inspired you!
